JESUS IS THE “DIVINE” SON OF GOD

May 4, 2017November 13, 2017 / Michael Battle / Leave a comment

Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, of a truth thou art the Son of God. ~ Matthew 14:33

Have you ever considered that the disciples worshipped Jesus as the Son of God?

If Jesus had been an ordinary man, it would have been idolatry to worship him, but if it was acceptable with God that Jesus was worshipped, then he was more than a mere man when he walked this earth.

The disciples would not have worshipped Jesus as the Son of God if being the Son of God were a common thing as with others. Unlike others, Jesus is God’s own unique Son – the only begotten Son of God.

The apostle John says, the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Jesus was God with us ~ Matthew 1:23, and God manifested in the flesh ~ 1 Timothy 3:16. Yet his divinity was concealed by his humanity. However, for those who came to him searching for truth, it was revealed to them that Jesus is the Son of God!

The name Son of God, when applied to Jesus speaks of his divinity.

In his second epistle, the apostle Peter tells us the following:

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. ~ 2 Peter 1:16-18

Peter, and the other disciples were eyewitnesses of his glory, and they testified that this man Jesus was more than an ordinary man: he is the Son of God.

As the Son, he his divine, and worthy of worship, for being the Son of God is a revelation of his majesty!

John the Baptist proclaimed: “I saw and bare record that this is the Son of God.” ~ John 1:34

If Jesus being the Son of God were not unique, there would be no need for John the Baptist to bear record of Jesus as such. When we examine the testimony of John about Jesus, we see that John declared that Jesus was more than an ordinary man.

John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, this was he of whom I spake, he that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. ~ John 1:15

John the Baptist proclaimed that Jesus was before him, even though Jesus came after him: this is a reference to the deity of Jesus Christ. John calls him Lord, saying, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of THE LORD, as said the prophet Esaias.” ~ John 1:23

The title Son of God carries a weight when applied to Jesus that it does not when applied to any other man. Jesus is not an ordinary man privileged to be called God’s child. Jesus is the Lord who came down for Heaven, and eternal life comes through believing he is the Son of God, i.e., believing he is divine!

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. ~ 1 John 4:15

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? ~ 1 John 5:4-5

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. ~ 1 John 5:9-13

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. ~ 1 John 5:20

WHO WAS MELCHISEDEK?

April 20, 2017April 20, 2017 / Michael Battle / Leave a comment

Rooted and Grounded In Christ

INTRODUCTION

By all evidence, the book of Hebrews was written before the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. We know this because the writer of Hebrews makes reference to the temple service, the priests, and the sacrifices in the present tense. In the present tense, he makes a comparison regarding the superiority of Jesus’ ministry in the heavens (in the greater and more perfect tabernacle) to that which was on earth (which only served as a shadow and an example) to point men to Christ.

He tells us that if Jesus were on earth he would not be a priest since there are already priests who offer gifts and sacrifices according to the Law. Even though that priesthood which had been ordained by the law was still functioning in the temple it had been made completely ineffective by Christ’s work on earth at the cross, and by his ministry in…

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GENERATIONAL CURSES (Part 2)

April 11, 2017 / Michael Battle / 1 Comment

Before Israel entered into the promise land, God told them exactly why he was driving out the previous inhabitants.

24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: FOR ALL THESE NATIONS ARE DEFILED WHICH I CAST OUT BEFORE YOU:

25 And the land is defiled: therefore I DO VISIT THE INIQUITY THEREOF upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.

26 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you:

27 (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;)

28 THAT THE LAND SPEW NOT YOU OUT ALSO, WHEN YE DEFILE IT, AS IT SPEWED OUT THE NATIONS THAT WERE BEFORE YOU.

29 For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people.

30 Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the Lord your God. ~ Leviticus 18: 24-30

When God gave to Israel the Ten Commandments He commanded them the following in the first command:

2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. ~ Exodus 20:2-6

After Israel entered into the promised land and possessed it, Joshua reminded them that God is a Jealous God and warned them that God would keep his promise to punish them if they went after other gods, and Israel promised to serve the Lord ~ Joshua 23-24.

This is what is really going on in those texts that televangelists pervert into general curses, that they claim they can break the power of.

God’s promise to punish the Israelites by driving them out of the land happened just as God had promised. The northern tribes of Israel were eventually taken captive by the Assyrians, and Judah by Babylon.
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To read Part One follow the link below:

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2017/04/10/generational-curses/?frame-nonce=536e7fabff

GENERATIONAL CURSES

April 10, 2017October 22, 2022 / Michael Battle / 1 Comment

Generational curses are neither an Old or New Testament concept. The scriptural texts that are used to advance the ideology of generational curses are taken completely out of context.

Please consider Exodus 20:1-6

1 And God spake all these words, saying,

2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. ~ Exodus 20:1-6

This is one of the main texts used by those who advance the concept of generational curses. Yet it is the first of the Ten Commandments. In this first command, God reveals that he alone is God and that Israel (as well as us today) are to have no other gods beside him. It is within this context that God says he is a jealous God.

I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

In the Old Testament, God referred to himself as a jealous God within the context of idols. God alone is God, and there is no other God besides him. Those who serve idols provoke his anger. Even under the New Testament, God is a jealous God who will not tolerate his people serving other gods (idols).

When God says he visits the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation, he is not speaking in reference to the so-called, generational curses, preached by some televangelists.

Instead, God is revealing who he is. He punishes those who hate him, and he will continue to punish the descendants of those who hate him if they follow in the sins of their parents.

Please understand that God does not punish children for their parents sins. Ezekiel 18 makes this abundantly clear. Rather, God deals with the sins of those who hate him. If the children walk in the iniquity of their fathers, God will punish them, but if a person repents and turns to God, God will, as he says, in the first commandment show mercy.

God does not say, “I visit the iniquity of those who hate me, by punishing their descendants to the 3rd and 4th generation, while I bless those that love me to the 3rd and 4th generation.” The context is punishment to those individuals who hate God and mercy on those individuals who love him.

I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me; and keep my commandments.

In Ezekiel 18 God told the people: As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. ~ Ezekiel 18:3-4

Ezekiel 18 completely refutes the ideology of generational curses taught within some places today.

The teaching of generational curses is an out of context doctrine. You cannot “rebuke” God’s judgments and punishment. God’s punishment for iniquity can only be removed by a person humbly repenting.

Finally, the truth of what God said he would do by, visiting the iniquity, can be understood by Paul’s words in Romans 1.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. ~ Romans 1:18-25
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To read Part Two click the following link:

https://michaelbattle65.wordpress.com/2017/04/11/generational-curses-part-2/?frame-nonce=536e7fabff

A MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY

April 9, 2017 / Michael Battle / Leave a comment

The apostle Peter declares that the Words (the scriptures) spoken by the holy men of God who are moved by the Holy Spirit, is a MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY concerning Jesus, than the disciples hearing the voice of God from heaven.

16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such A VOICE to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

18 And THIS VOICE which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

19 We have also A MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

20 Knowing this first, that no PROPHECY OF THE SCRIPTURE is of any private interpretation.

21 For THE PROPHECY came not in old time by the will of man: but HOLY MEN OF GOD SPAKE AS THEY WERE MOVED BY THE HOLY GHOST. ~ 2 Peter 1:16-21

These words from 2 Peter chapter 1, are the lead-in into Peter’s declaration that there would arise false teachers.

1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. ~ 2 Peter 2:1-2

The apostle Peter warns of false prophets among the people during the times when holy men of God were moved by the Holy Ghost to speak forth the prophecy, contained in the scriptures, regarding Christ.

It is in this context that Peter tells us there will be false teachers among us. Even as the false prophets opposed the prophecy of Christ, so shall false teachers cause the way of the truth (contained in the more sure word of prophecy) to be evil spoken of.

WHY DID JESUS SPEAK IN PARABLES?

April 8, 2017May 31, 2017 / Michael Battle / Leave a comment

The story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 17) is often called a parable, but it wasn’t. It was a story to explain the truth so that everyone could understand.

Jesus spoke in parables, not to reveal truth, but to conceal it. In Matthew 13:3-9 Jesus gave the parable of the sower. We who read that today understand the meaning of it because Jesus explained it to his disciples in private. Before he explained it to them, they ask Jesus “why do you speak in Parables?”

Consider Matthew 13:10-16

10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, WHY SPEAKEST THOU UNTO THEM IN PARABLES?

11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, BUT TO THEM IT IS NOT GIVEN.

12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

13 THEREFORE SPEAK I TO THEM IN PARABLES: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. ~ Matthew 13:10-16

In verse 17 -18 Jesus says the following to his disciples: For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. HEAR YE THEREFORE THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER.

Jesus then proceeded to explain the meaning of this parable to his disciples.

Parables were meant to conceal the truth, so that the truth would be revealed to those who would pursue it. When Jesus told stories like the one in Luke 17 (the rich man and Lazarus) nothing was concealed. It was spoken on a level where everyone would understand it, regardless if they accepted or rejected it.

HAVE I COMMITTED THE UNPARDONABLE SIN ?

April 7, 2017April 8, 2017 / Michael Battle / Leave a comment

Can a person who has deliberately, willfully, and by a conscience decision walked away from the Lord, ever be restored to him again?

This is a serious question which needs to be answered, because there are those who at one time walked with the Lord, who turned away from God, and who now believe there is no longer any hope for them.

I recently had someone in this situation write me, expressing that they wake up every day with depression because of their decision to walk away from Jesus so many years ago.

This dear soul is the reason I am addressing this matter, and make no mistake about it, there are others out there who feel very much the same way. What you are about to read is intended to help them, as well as equip my fellow Christians with an understanding of the teachings of scripture, so that they can help others as well.

When Jesus made the statement regarding the unpardonable sin it was aimed at the hardened, and unrepentant Pharisees who despised Jesus and wanted to put him to death. The Pharisees were not merely speaking out of poor judgment.

The Pharisees were leaders within the religious ranks of Israel, and those among them to whom Jesus was speaking, were hell bent on destroying him. Their speaking against him was an intentional effort to smear the reputation of the Son of God because they hated him so much. In their hatred for Jesus, they intentionally spoke evil against the work of the Holy Spirit, in and through Jesus.

In 1 Timothy 1:13, the apostle Paul referred to himself, before his conversion, as a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and an injurious man. He than adds: but I obtained mercy, because I did it IGNORANTLY in unbelief.

The unpardonable sin, is not a sin that can be committed in ignorance, or accidentally. Nor is it a sin which is committed by those who are overly tempted, or who draw back from walking with God because they are unwilling to live a consecrated life, etc.

The difference between Paul and the Pharisees whom Jesus rebuked in the gospel accounts, is that Paul blasphemed (against Jesus) because he was zealous for God according to the Law. The Pharisees, on the other hand, were power hungry religious leaders. Their blasphemy was a display of their hatred for God and that hatred was aimed at God’s Son, whom God had anointed with his Holy Spirit.

They were leaders claiming to see!

39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

⁴⁰And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

⁴¹Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. ~ John 9:39-41

When the gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are examined closely, we find that the Pharisees, to whom Jesus gave such a stern warning, rejected Jesus, not out of ignorance, but as leaders within Israel. They willingly rejected the testimony of the God, whom they claimed to represent, when God through the Holy Spirit spoke to them by His Son.

When Jesus appeared to Paul at the time of his conversion, Paul humbled himself and said: Who art thou, Lord? The Pharisees, whom Jesus warned in the gospels refused to humble themselves in the presence of Jesus.

The Pharisees, as well as the scribes and the lawyers, were so corrupt that they were keeping the people from entering the Kingdom of God. When God, whom they were supposed to represent, walked among them in the flesh, rather than pointing the people to him, they taught them to despise him.

This is not a sin held to the charge of anyone who fears God, and desires to serve him.

Many years ago, when I was under a cloud darkness (spiritually speaking) I was fearfully tormented with thoughts that I had committed the unpardonable sin. Yet in that place of torment and fear, I determined that I was going to serve the Lord, even if I was condemned to hell; and I told Lord that very thing!

Only the Spirit of the Lord could have led me in such a proclamation!

If there is any desire for God in a person’s heart, that desire is because of the conviction of the Spirit of God drawing them.

Jesus said, No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him ~ John 6:44. And, no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. ~ John 6:65.

But what about those who have turned away from the Lord? Isn’t it an unpardonable sin to turn away from God once you have been saved?

The short answer is NO!

Please allow me to explain. First consider Hebrews 10:26-31.

²⁶For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

²⁷But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

²⁸He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

²⁹Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

³⁰For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

³¹It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. ~ Hebrews 10:26-31

This is a very sobering text, and one we need to understand correctly, or else things can get read into it that it doesn’t actually say.

Verses 28 and 29 are key to having a proper understanding, because despising the Law of Moses is the precedence for the punishment of those who do the same under grace.

According to the Law, the one who was worthy of death, could only be put to death at the testimony of two or three witnesses. Even if a person was worthy of death, they could not to be put to death on the testimony of one witness (Deuteronomy 19:15).

The author of Hebrews mentions the Son of God, the blood of the everlasting covenant, and the Spirit of grace in correlation to the two or three witnesses of the old testament.

This is very important because the sin being referred here is a deliberate renunciation of Jesus as the Son of God (the Messiah) just as the Pharisees who renounced his Messiah -ship and refused to believe that he is the Son of God.

Rejecting Jesus in this manner, consequently results in discrediting the saving power of the blood of the covenant, and causes a complete hardening of the heart against the Holy Spirit’s witness or testimony of the person of Jesus Christ.

This is not merely turning away from the Lord because of being overly tempted, or being unwilling to live a consecrated life.

Many who are backslidden still believe that Jesus is the Son of God, yet they are tormented with the thought of being damned forever because at one time they served God and drifted away from him, or at some point they deliberately turned away from him, or in of a moment of weakness, pain, sorrow, or being overly tempted: they said or did something which they now deeply regret.

Yet, they still believe that Jesus is the Son of God, they know he is the Savior of the world, and the precious lamb of God who shed his blood to redeem them. They struggle to overcome condemnation, fearing they have committed the unpardonable sin, but Jesus loves them. God patiently waits for them to return to him just as the Father of the prodigal son patiently waited for his son to return home. ~ see Luke 15:11-24.

Many years ago, when I was under the torment that I had committed the unpardonable sin ( I wasn’t backslidden, but tormented because of my past), I had a life changing experience.

I had gone to work one morning and was struggling terribly. I prayed a simple prayer and cried out to God, asking for him to relieve me from work that day so I could go and pray. Not long thereafter, the manager came over where I and some other employees were standing. He asked, “Who wants to go home?” I gently raised my hand and he gave me the rest of the day off.

From there I went to a wooded area to pray. While I was there praying, I remembered that the place where I attended Bible study was kept unlocked and I could go there to pray, so I did. While I was there praying, I noticed a magazine from a ministry that would become a great blessing to me.

I picked it up and began to read it. In this article, the minister addressed the lies of the devil concerning the unpardonable sin, and how Satan uses this lie to bring people under condemnation. Towards the end of the article I remember reading a line that said something like this: “don’t let the devil bother you about this anymore.”

I knew God was speaking to me!

In this article the minister also shared truth about the blood of Jesus. That was the moment when a desire for a strong faith in the blood of Jesus was conceived in my heart, and that is where my personal journey of learning, and teaching about the blood of Christ, the cross of Christ, and our redemption in Christ actually began.

So the things I teach today about the cross are more than what I have studied. They are the result of my desperation for God. Early on in my journey of learning about the power of the blood of Christ, Hebrews 10:19 became the lifeline that sustained me. Hebrews 10:19 says, having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.

Through that one verse I latched on to the hope that if I had faith in the blood of Jesus, nothing could separate me from the presence of God. The same holds true for you!

Those who want Jesus in their life, but fear they have committed the unpardonable sin, have been lied to by Satan. They have been lied to about the character and nature of God. They have been lied to with scriptures which Satan twists to deceive many people.

Consequently they are deceived into reading the Bible through the lens of a wrong interpretation of the unpardonable sin, rather than allowing the context and the whole counsel of scripture to rightly interpret that sin.

The Bible teaches us that God established a testimony in Jacob (Israel) ~ Psalm 78:5. Accordingly, the author of Hebrews appeals to the Law (God’s testimony in Israel) as the precedent for the sobering words in Hebrews 10, which also properly interprets the words of Hebrews 6:4-6.

This is why we should consider the words of God through the prophet Isaiah to backslidden Israel.

Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have REBELLED against me.

The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. ~ Isaiah 1:2-4

Notice the indictment against Israel. God literally calls the heavens and the earth to record, to behold this astonishing thing, namely, Israel’s turning away from his Master: they have rebelled against me.

Think about that for a moment, and allow it to sink in: Israel had rebelled and turned away from God.

They not only turned away from God, but they did very wicked things in his sight. He indicts Israel of their sins, calling them (1) a sinful nation, (2) a people laden with iniquity, (3) a seed of evil doers, (4) children that are corrupters; and accuses them with FORSAKING THE LORD AND PROVOKING HIM TO ANGER.

If you are reading this, and you have feared that you have committed the unpardonable sin, think about this for a moment in view of your past: Israel had forsaken the Lord and provoked him to anger, but as we will soon see, he still extended mercy to them.

God tells them their whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint (v.5), and likens them to Sodom and Gomorrah: Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah (.10).

God also rebukes them for their corrupt temple worship because of their sinfulness:

¹¹To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight NOT in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

¹²When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?

¹³Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; IT IS INIQUITY, even the solemn meeting.

¹⁴Your new moons and your appointed feasts MY SOUL HATETH: they are a trouble unto me; I AM WEARY TO BEAR THEM.

¹⁵And when ye spread forth your hands, I WILL HIDE MINE EYES FROM YOU: yea, when ye make many prayers, I WILL NOT HEAR; your hands are full of blood.

The indictment against Israel was severe.

If we were to stop reading at this point, and interpret what happens next based on the indictment against them, we might come away with the conclusion that God was absolutely done with them, and that there was no longer any hope for them – ONLY DAMNATION!

Yet with all this, God says the following to them:

16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

¹⁷Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

¹⁸Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: THOUGH YOUR SINS BE AS SCARLET, THEY SHALL BE AS WHITE AS SNOW; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

¹⁹If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land… ~ Isaiah 1:16-19

Even though Israel had forsaken God and done very evil things in his sight – He still offered them MERCY! That is the truth about the Living God.

Those who are being lied to in their minds regarding the unpardonable sin, are being persuaded by Satan that God is not merciful. Yet God IS MERCIFUL !

THE MERCY OF GOD

March 31, 2017October 28, 2017 / Michael Battle / Leave a comment

MERCY – It’s what God’s love looks like towards the sinner.

Merriam – Webster defines mercy as compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one’s power.

The reason there is no anointing on the message of love within the postmodern gospel which has infiltrated many churches, is because it is rooted is a self-centered, humanistic, lie, which rejects the biblical account of the justice of God.

God is a holy God, and his love is bestowed on sinners as mercy. Jesus died for sinners, not because God was madly in love with them, but because God is merciful.

In John 3:14-15, Jesus says the following:

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Jesus makes reference to the serpent in the wilderness, as recorded in Numbers 21.

5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

6 And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

8 And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. ~ Numbers 21:5-9

The serpent of brass which God commanded Moses to make was the atoning provision to save the people from the judgment which God had sent. Notice that the text says: And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died (v.6)

According to Jesus, this was a type of how God would deliver us from our sins (John 3:14-15) and this was a type of how God would “so love” the world through the giving of his Son, Jesus.

I read something once which I think is very indicative of how many people have come to view God’s love in the postmodern gospel. The comment said of God “He is madly in love with people. That is why He dealt so furiously with sin. He crushed Jesus so He could save me.”

This is incorrect. The truth is, we were under his judgment because of our sins, and he saved us because of his mercy!

Many times people ask: “Why would a loving God condemn people to hell?” Yet this question gets it backwards, because first came judgment then the atonement.

Therefore the correct question should be: “Why would a righteous God (the Judge of all) give life to a condemned sinner?”

The answer is: because he of his mercy!

In his mercy, God demonstrated his love towards sinners by sending his Son, Jesus, to die for their sins, so that whosoever would believe would not perish but have everlasting life.

⁴But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

⁵Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

⁶Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

⁷That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ~ Titus 3:4-7

When a sinner understands that he is condemned, and repents, he doesn’t question the justice of the love of God – “Why would a loving God condemn anyone to hell?” Rather, he praises God for his mercy, by which he demonstrated his love towards sinners.

THE LOVE AND RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT OF A HOLY GOD

March 30, 2017May 27, 2023 / Michael Battle / 2 Comments

I AM THAT I AM

Throughout the Bible, God is revealed as a holy God and every attribute of God is a revelation of his divine essence. The same God who is glorious in his love is also glorious in bringing down those who oppose and hate him.

The apostle John tells us: God is love ~ 1 John 4:8, and in the book of the Revelation, the apostle John tells us how God is praised, worshiped, and glorified for his judgments against the ungodly.

1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up THE WRATH OF GOD.

²And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

³And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

⁴Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest. ~ Revelation 15:1-4

Recently I came across a teaching which said the following:

God’s justice is something God does, and like everything He does, it flows from Who He is. The Scriptures tell us that God IS Love (1 John 4:8, 16); but there is NOT ONE Scripture that tells us that God IS Justice. God does justice, yes; but He IS Love. God IS NOT Justice who does Love. God IS Love who does justice.

Upon reading this, it wouldn’t take much for a person to come away with the conclusion that the writer is setting forth the ideology that love is the supreme attribute of God. Though the Bible does teach God is love, the Bible never teaches that love trumps all the other attributes of God.

God is love. He is merciful. He is gracious, and he is also angry with the wicked every day. ~ Psalm 7:11.

That last statement – God is angry with the wicked every day – is a difficult one for many to swallow, but it is true nevertheless, because God never changes. ~ Malachi 3:6

Throughout the Bible, there are many attributes which the scriptures ascribe to God and each one is revealed in a very specific context.

For example, after the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea on dry ground, the Egyptians who attempted to do the same, were drowned. Afterwards, Israel sang a victory song to the Lord in which they proclaimed: “the Lord is a MAN OF WAR: the Lord is his name.” ~ Exodus 15:3

In Israel’s time of trouble, when they needed God to defend them and deliver them from the pursuit of Pharaoh and the Egyptian army, God was revealed to them as A MAN OF WAR .

When God gave to Moses the Ten Commandments, God revealed in the very first command that he is a JEALOUS GOD.

2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I THE LORD THY GOD AM A JEALOUS GOD, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me…~ Exodus 20:2-5

Throughout the old testament, God referred to himself as a Jealous God within the context of idols. God alone is God, and there his no other God besides him. Those who serve idols provoke his anger. Even under the new testament, God, who is love, is a jealous God who will not tolerate his people serving other gods (idols).

If we think that because God is love, he is no longer a jealous God who will not be displeased with idolatry, we have embarked upon deception. God is who he declares himself to be, and he does not change. God said to Moses: “I AM that I AM.”

Whenever a scriptural truth such as, God is love, is elevated beyond the boundaries of the whole counsel of scripture, error quickly follows.

By emphasizing, God is love, as if its is the supreme attribute of God that trumps all others, we become prey to the mercy of those who define God’s love out of their own human reasoning.Thus the universalist can claim – everyone will be saved and no one will be damned for rejecting Jesus, because God is love, and God wouldn’t send anyone to hell. Yet this view of God’s love is not compatible with the whole counsel of scripture.

Deuteronomy 32:4 says God is JUST and RIGHT, and Psalm 89:14 declares “ JUSTICE and JUDGMENT are the habitation of God’s throne.”

Psalm 9:6 says: The Lord is known by the JUDGMENT which he executeth., and in Isaiah, God declares that he is a Just God: there is no God else beside me; a JUST GOD and a Savior; there is none beside me. ~ Isaiah 45:21

In Jeremiah, God says the following:

23 Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord. ~ Jeremiah 9:23-24

God’s character and attributes are proclaimed all throughout the scriptures and only when we hold them together do we get a true portrait of who God is.

GOD AND THE UNREPENTANT

In scripture, it is the unrepentant sinner who incurs God’s wrath, and not the repentant sinner. According to the Bible, God delights in showing mercy and forgiveness, even to the ungodly.

As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye,turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? ~ Ezekiel 33:11

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. ~ Isaiah 55:7

When the wicked turns to the Lord, the Lord will be merciful and forgiving, but what does the Bible say about the wicked who are unrepentant?

According to the Bible, the unrepentant are treasuring up wrath against themselves for the Day of Judgment.

But after THY HARDNESS AND UNREPENTANT HEART TREASUREST UP UNTO THYSELF WRATH against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God… ~ Romans 2:5

Many Christians can cite the words: the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance. Few know the context of those words. Though it is true that the goodness of God leads to repentance, Paul puts it in the form of question within the context of those who are hardhearted and unrepentant, and who despise the goodness of God.

1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds… ~ Romans 2:1-6

Paul says these words on the heels of his condemnation of the wicked in verses 18-32 of the previous chapter, where Paul tells us God abandoned the wicked to their own devices.

GOD GAVE THEM UP to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves… ~ v 24

GOD GAVE THEM UP unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature… ~ v. 26

GOD GAVE THEM OVER to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient… ~ v. 28

God’s disposition, and his dealings with the wicked who are unrepentant is well documented throughout the entirety of the scriptures. Consider the following:

The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: THOU HATEST ALL THE WORKERS OF INIQUITY. ~ Psalm 5:5

God judgeth the righteous, and GOD IS ANGRY WITH THE WICKED EVERY DAY. ~ Psalm 7:11

The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence HIS SOUL HATETH. ~ Psalm 11:5

The CURSE OF THE LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. ~ Proverbs 3:33

I could go on and on, because God’s displeasure with those who practice wickedness (child molestation, rape, murder, demon worship, sodomy, human trafficking, etc.) and refuse to repent, is well documented throughout the scriptures.

At this point, allow me to remind you, God extends mercy to the wicked who repents, but to the UNREPENTANT who despises God – God has no pleasure in them.

For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. ~ Psalm 5:4

God is indeed a loving and forgiving God, and he desires to forgive people of their sins, but they must turn away from their sins and turn to him to be forgiven by him. God is a good God, who commands all people, everywhere to repent ~ Acts 17:30, but when his goodness is despised by the ungodly who hate him, they become subject to his wrath.

9 Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy WITH THEM THAT LOVE HIM and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

10 And REPAYETH THEM THAT HATE HIM TO THEIR FACE, TO DESTROY THEM: he will not be slack to him that HATETH HIM, HE WILL REPAY HIM TO HIS FACE. ~ Deuteronomy 9:9-10

Throughout the entirety of the Bible, in both the old and new testament, God’s love, grace, and mercy is extended to all people; and he is forgiving towards all who humble themselves in repentance. Yet for those who refuse to repent because they despise and hate him, he reserves them unto the day of judgment to be punishment ~ see 2 Peter 2:9; 3:7

Unfortunately, many Christians have the notion that the truth of the severity of God towards the wicked is a message which portrays God as harsh and unloving. Yet, the scriptures make a distinction between those upon whom God lavishes his love, and those who are an abomination to him.

The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness. ~ Proverbs 15:9

The commonly held belief that God loves every person (good and evil, godly and ungodly) exactly the same, is not a scriptural teaching. Consider for example John 14:21: He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me SHALL BE LOVED OF MY FATHER , AND I WILL LOVE HIM , and will manifest myself to him.

Clearly, this text suggests that those who love Jesus and obey him will be recipients of both his, and his Father’s love.

Now, consider verse 23: Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and MY FATHER WILL LOVE HIM, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Now consider Hebrews 12:6-8

FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVETH he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, GOD DEALETH WITH YOU AS SONS; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye illegitimate, and not sons.

Notice that here in Hebrews, the Father chastens those he loves. This is said in contrast to those who are without chastisement. There is a love bestowed on his children, that those who are not his children are not partakers of.

THE LOVE AND WRATH OF A HOLY GOD

Throughout the Bible, God’s word reveals that God is holy and is to be feared and held in reverence. This holy God, who is to be feared and held in reverence, is very compassionate and gracious and merciful towards all who repent of their sins.

God’s love is freely given to those who bow before him, in holy fear and reverence. It is not bestowed on those who refuse to humble themselves before him, and who defy him.

Throughout the Bible, God’s love for the world is his offer of forgiveness and mercy to the ungodly who will humbly come to him with a repentant heart.

I read something once which I think is very indicative of how many people have come to view God’s love. The comment said of God “He is madly in love with people. That is why He dealt so furiously with sin. He crushed Jesus so He could save me.”

This statement speaks more of our infatuation with ourselves than it does God’s loves for us as revealed in the scriptures. In truth, God’s love for us isn’t a revelation of how wonderful we are: how God just can go on without us. Instead, God’s love is a revelation of how glorious he is.

That a holy, sovereign God, who is going to judge the world in righteousness reaches out to us in love to save us through his Son, Jesus Christ, glorifies him and not us. It displays his majesty and beauty, not ours.

There are many people who recognize the words of John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son. Many can quote these words verbatim. Unfortunately, many of those same people do not know the context in which the words are spoken.

Let us consider, briefly, the context of God’s love in John 3:16 to better understand God’s love as it is revealed in scripture. Let’s begin with verses 14-15:

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Now consider the old testament account from which Jesus references in verses 14-15 above.

5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

6 And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto theLord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

8 And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. ~ Numbers 21:5-9

The serpent of brass which God commanded Moses to make was the atoning provision to save the people from the judgment which God had sent. Notice that the text says: And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died (v.6)

According to Jesus, this was a type of how God would deliver us from our sins, and it was an old testament foreshadowing of how God would display his love for us in Jesus Christ.

Sinful man is under the judgment of God, but God sent his son to be the atoning sacrifice for the sins of all who will repent and turn to him and this is how God so loved the world. He gave his only begotten Son so that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life. ~ John 3:16

Now consider John 3:17 – 21:

¹⁷For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

¹⁸He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

¹⁹And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

²⁰For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

²¹But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. ~ John 3:16 – 21

Now notice verse 36:

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

God gave his Son to bestow his love on all who would humbly turn from their sins. God’s love for all people is revealed in his giving of his Son, with the condition, that the recipients of his love turn from their sins.

Those who refuse to turn from their sins by rejecting the precious gift of God, which he gave through the offering of his Son, have consequently rejected the love of God. Therefore they are condemned, and are under God’s wrath.

Whether we like it or not, there are people throughout the world who hate God because they love their sins. God’s love is extended to them, calling them to repentance. If they persist in their rebellion against God, refusing to humble themselves, they will be judged and damned in their sins: In this way, they are under the wrath of God.

The new testament teaches that God has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man he has appointed: Jesus Christ.

God has given his Son as the witness of himself, and in the Son, God offers forgiveness, grace, and mercy, to all people. Those who believe God’s witness, in his Son, receive life everlasting through God’s forgiveness, grace, and mercy; which is freely given in Jesus Christ.

Those who reject the Son of God; reject the love, mercy, and grace, God has offered them. God is holy and just to be displeased and angry with those who refuse to humble themselves before him so that they may receive mercy and grace.

On the day of judgement, those who reject God’s love will have no intercessor, no advocate to defend them, and will stand before a holy and righteous God with all their sins exposed before him. They will be judged for their sins because of their defiance of his goodness, and their rejection of the love God offered them in Jesus.

For them, there will no forgiveness when they stand before God to be judged. They will be judged, not by God’s compassion, but by God’s wrath.

THE DAY OF JUDGMENT

From Genesis to Revelation, the coming day of the judgment of God is a biblical truth.

For God shall bring every work into JUDGMENT, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. ~ Ecclesiastes 12:14

Jesus told his disciples that those who reject the message of the gospel would be held accountable in the Day of Judgment.

14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in THE DAY OF JUDGMENT , than for that city. ~ Matthew 10:14-15

According to Jesus, those who do not repent will be judged in the Day of Judgment

20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they REPENTED not:

21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have REPENTED long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon atTHE DAY OF JUDGMENT, than for you.

23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in THE DAY OF JUDGMENT, than for thee. ~ Matthew 11:20-24

According to Jesus, those who rejected him during his earthly ministry, will be condemned in the Day of Judgment.

38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in JUDGMENT with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they REPENTED at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

42 The queen of the south shall rise up in THE JUDGMENT with this generation, and shall CONDEMN IT: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. ~ Matthew 12:38-42

In John 9:39, Jesus said: For JUDGMENT I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

The apostle Paul testified of the Judgment of God.

24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him CONCERNING THE FAITH IN CHRIST.

25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, andJUDGMENT TO COME, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. ~ Acts 24:24-25

In the book of Romans (chapters 1-2), Paul expounds on how every man is going to be judged according to his deeds in the Day of Judgment, and says this is going to happen “In the day when God shall JUDGE the secrets of men BY JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO MY GOSPEL.” (2:16)

While some pervert the message of the cross given by the apostle Paul; claiming God will not bring anyone into judgment for their sins. Paul NEVER taught such doctrine.

The death of Jesus did not cancel the Day of Judgment. Nowhere does the Bible teach that God judged every man at the cross, thereby cancelling the Day of Judgment.

At the cross, the pentalty of death for our sins was paid in full so that all who believe in Jesus Christ may have life through him. Those who trust in Christ are justified and cleansed from their sins by his blood and will not be condemned.

At the cross, Jesus gave himself as an offering for our sins, so that, through faith in him, we could be justified in the sight of God according to the mercy of Him who is going to ” judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ” ~ see Psalm 9:8 and Acts 17:31.

There is no escaping the judgment of God for those who reject Jesus and refuse to repent.

Consider the words of Paul from Romans 1: 28 – 2:6

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing THE JUDGEMENT OF GOD, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

2 But we are sure that THE JUDGEMENT OF GOD is according to truth against them which commit such things.

3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt ESCAPE THE JUDGEMENT OF GOD?

4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to REPENTANCE?

5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself WRATH against THE DAY OF WRATH and revelation of THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT OF GOD;

6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds… ~ Romans 1: 28 – 2:6

In Acts 10:42, the apostle Peter declared, “And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God TO BE THE JUDGE of quick and dead.”

Peter elaborates on this in 1 Peter 4.

³For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

⁴Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

⁵Who shall give account TO HIM that is ready TO JUDGE the quick and the dead.

Verse 5 is a reference to Jesus. Jesus is the man by whom God is going to judge the world as Paul says in Acts 17:31, “He (God) hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness BY THAT MAN WHOM HE HATH ORDAINED.”

In the book of the Revelation we see that only Lamb (Jesus) was worthy to open the seven sealed book containing the revelation of God’s judgment on those who oppose God. In chapter 19, it is Jesus who “treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” (v. 15)

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and IN RIGHTEOUSNESS HE DOETH JUDGE and make war.

12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called THE WORD OF GOD.

14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and HE TREADETH THE WINEPRESS OF THE FIERCENESS AND WRATH OF ALMIGHTY GOD.

16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.

17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. ~ Revelation 19:11-21

The apostle Paul has a similar description in 2 Thessalonians 2:7-9:

“…the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire TAKING VENGEANCE on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.”

The author of Hebrews refers to ETERNAL JUDGMENT as one of the foundational principles of the doctrines of Christ (see Hebrews 6:1-2), and warned of the judgment of God against those who abandoned the faith.

26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But A CERTAIN FEARFUL LOOKING FOR OF JUDGMENT AND FIERY INDIGNATION, which shall devour the adversaries.

28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

30 For we know him that hath said, VENGEANCE belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

31 IT IS A FEARFUL THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE LIVING GOD. ~ Hebrews 10: 26-31

In his second epistle, the apostle Peter reminds us again of God’s judgment saying the following:

4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto JUDGMENT;

5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto THE DAY OF JUDGMENT to be punished…~ 2 Peter 2:4-9

The apostle Peter believed the DAY OF JUDGMENT is THE COMING DAY OF THE LORD.

1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against THE DAY OF JUDGMENT AND PERDITION of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10 But THE DAY OF THE LORD will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of THE DAY OF GOD,wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. ~ 2 Peter 3:1-13

Jude also warns of the Day of Judgment:

5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto THE JUDGMENT OF THE GREAT DAY.

7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

15 To execute JUDGMENT upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. ~ Jude 1:5-16

The apostle John testified of the judgment and wrath of God (see Revelation 14:6-8; 15:1-8) and of the final judgment before the throne of God.

11 And I saw A GREAT WHITE THRONE, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were JUDGED out of those things which were written in the books, ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they wereJUDGED EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. ~ Revelation 20:11-15

GOD AND THE UNREPENTANT

March 29, 2017March 30, 2017 / Michael Battle / Leave a comment